Shiva and the Kayakalpa Tradition

Today, February 27th 2014, Maha Shivratri is celebrated by devotees of Shiva all over the world. This festival celebrates the union of Shiva and Shakti the divine Masculine and Feminine energies. The festival begins with a night vigil leading up to the day of the festival during which many Shiva devotees fast and offer special prayers. Shiva is worshiped in the form of a lingam, a vertical, rounded column, representing the male creative force and the infinite, indescribable nature of God, and Shakti in the form of the Yoni which represents female creative energy. Together they represent the totality of creation. Flowers, incense and other offerings are made, while mantras and hymns are chanted.

The celebration of Maha Shivaratri is attributed to several tales in Hindu mythology. One of the most popular tales traces its origins to samudra manthan, or churning of the ocean of milk. According to this belief, when the gods and demons were churning the ocean of milk to obtain amrita (drink of immortality), they came across many unusual substances including a deadly poison. Terrified, the gods approached Shiva for help, and out of compassion for all living beings, Shiva swallowed the poison. The poison was so potent that it turned his neck to blue.

One of the most famous prayers recited to lord Shiva on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri is the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, also known as the death-conquering mantra. Below are the words of the mantra in Sanskrit and a translation:

Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam

Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat

Translation: We meditate on the Three-eyed reality which permeates and nourishes all like a fragrance. May we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality, even as a cucumber is severed from bondage to the creeper. Thus the tradition of Kayakalpa, the tradition of the art & science of Immortality begins with the transmission of this sacred knowledge of “liberation from death” from Shiva to Shakti, and from Shakti to the Siddha masters of meditation and medicine.